Football

ABSTRACT

A football includes a rubber layer ( 10 ), a fabric layer ( 20 ), a sponge layer ( 30 ) securely clamped between the rubber layer ( 10 ) and the fabric layer ( 20 ) by sewing; a bladder inside the fabric layer to hold air and a plastic lace ( 2 ) inserted through openings ( 12 ) in two adjacent rubber pieces ( 11 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a football and more particularly to a football having a layer of sponge securely clamped between a rubber layer and a fabric layer such that the impact to the hands of a person catching the football will be lessened due to the sponge layer.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] In a football game, tackling a runner carrying the football under his arm or the receiver jumping up high up in the air trying to catch the flying football is quite common. Defenders all try their best to tackle the ball carrier. After we have sensed the thrill from the motion and appreciated the maneuverability and strategy of both sides during an exciting game, one might ask oneself that beside the strategy, is there anything that we can do to exclude factors caused by the football itself and to make the football game strictly focus on the comparison between strength and strategy. That is, if the structure of the football could be changed to exclude fumbles caused by the impact of the football on the receiver, the receiver should have no excuse for saying that a fumble was caused by the impact of the football itself.

[0005] In order to accomplish the foregoing purpose, the primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved football structure that is able to provide a shock absorbing feature to minimize the possibility of fumbles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the invention is to provide an improved football having a sponge layer securely clamped between the rubber layer and the fabric layer, so that the impact on a receiver's hands would be minimized by absorbing most of the impact by the sponge layer.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a football in accordance with the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view of different layers of the football in FIG. 1; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner structure of the football in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] With reference to FIG. 1, a football (1) in accordance with the present invention has a rubber layer (10) composed of multiple rubber pieces (11), a fabric layer (20) composed of multiple fabric pieces (21) and a sponge layer (30) composed of multiple sponge pieces (31).

[0012] The sponge layer (30) is securely clamped between the rubber layer (10) and the fabric layer (20) by sewing.

[0013] Each of the rubber pieces (11), the fabric pieces (21) and the sponge pieces (31) are an elliptical shape so that after each rubber piece (11), sponge piece (31) and fabric piece (21) are sewed together, an elliptical piece of rubber, sponge and fabric is formed. When the elliptical piece is formed, the user then is able to combine several elliptical pieces together to form a football by sewing edges of adjacent elliptical pieces. Thereafter, a bladder (22) is inserted into the sewed football to hold air. After the football is formed, the user inserts a plastic lace (2) through openings (12) in only two adjacent rubber pieces (11), and thus a football is finished.

[0014] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A football comprising: a rubber layer (10) composed of multiple elliptical rubber pieces (11); a fabric layer (20) composed of multiple elliptical fabric pieces (21); a sponge layer (30) composed of multiple elliptical sponge pieces (31) securely clamped between the rubber layer (10) and the fabric layer (20) by sewing; a bladder inside the fabric layer to hold air; and a plastic lace (2) inserted through openings (12) in two adjacent rubber pieces (11), whereby a football is finished. 